Gas lift means



M. P. BURKE GAS LIFT MEANS Oct. 13, 1931.

Filed June 18. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 06f. 13, 1931. M, P. BURKE 1,827,066

GAS LIFT MEANS Filed June 18, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 13, 1931 UNITED STATES MARK IE'. BURKE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA vGAS LIFT MEANS Application med June 18,

This invention relates to gas'litts and is more particularly related to a gas lift adapt-y ed for use in elevating oil or like liquids from wells, and is particularly addressed to a type 5 of gas lift apparatus which may be submerged in the oil within a Well to any desired or'required degree, and is not dependent for its operation upon the degree of sub mersion of the apparatus inthe oil .within the well butis ,capable of a constant and predetermined operation irrespective of the degree of submersioris.

Heretofore many types of gas lifts have been employed Jfor the purpose of forcing liquids such, for example` as oil,.water and the like. from wells drilled in the ground.l The gas lifts as heretofore used, for the most part. have been of such a construction and mode of operation that they have required l0 that they be submerged a definite head into the column ot the liquid within the well in order that 'they will function correctly and economically` To maintain the correct degree of submergence of an apparatus within i an oil well so that the operation of the gas lift apparatus will be constant is extremely diiicult and. practically impossible, due to the. fa ct that. the head of the liquid within the well will var v due to many causes suchrfor example. as the variation of rock pressure whichraises the column of oil in the, well.

` It is therefore. any object of this invention toprovide a gas lift apparatus which is constructed to permit the same to be submerged 3 in the column of liquid in the well to a point near the bottom thereof or to any desired degree so as to eliminate the necessity of setting the apparatus to a definite predeter- 0 mined degree of submergence and which apparatus includes a means for admitting into the `gas litt chamber of the apparatus apres detcrminedcharge of oil or like liquid which may be forced from the well as a slug.

5 Another object of this invention is to provide a gas lift including a single valve mech amsm which 'is of the equalized type and is.

operated automatically by fluid pressure -in .order to intermittently admit the liquid from the-well to the gaschamber andintermittent- 1928. Serial N0. 286,124.

ly force theliquid as admitted into' the gas chamber from the gas chamber as a slug.

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

In the drawings:

Figure1 is a diagrammatic sectional elevation of a well illustrating a gas lift mecha 60 nism as submerged in the column of oil within the well.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the gas lift mechanism embodied in 4this invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional end elevation taken 65 substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

` FigureI 4 is a sectional end elevation taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2."

Figure is arsectional end elevation taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic-sectional elevation of a well illustrating a modified form of gas lift apparatus as embodied in this. invention.

Figure 7 a sectional side elevation of the r75 modified form of gas lift apparatus embodying this invention.

Figure 8 is a sectional end elevation taken substantially on the line 8 8 of Fi re 7.

In the .preferred embodiment o this` inso vention as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, 1 indicates a well casing to the lower end of which isfsecured a well screen 2 I'which -may-be of any suitable or desirable' construction, as is well understood in the art, for admitting the oil or otherl liquid from theformation into the' casing 1'.' Concentrically mounted within the casing 1 is a tubing 3, and concentrically disposedwithin the tubing 3 is a string of macaroni tubing 4. Suspended from thel lower end of the tubing 3 is the gas lift apparatus embodied in this invention. Secured to the lower end of the tubing 3 is a sleeve 5 which is connected at its upper end to the tubing 3 and at its lower end to a 95 barrel 6. The barrel 6 provides a gas lift chamber 7 into which the liquid tobe elevated from the well is adm1tted, and the barrel 6 is provided with an inlet vval ve 8 at its lower end and at its upper endis 1n, 100

open communication with the tubing 3. Se-- sleeve 13 by means of a pin 15 secured to the lower section of the macaroni tubing 4 and passes into a lock slot 16 formed at the upper end of the sleeve 13.

Means are provided'forpacking the macaroni tubing 4 within the sleeve 13., which means may be of any suitable or desirable form, as illustrated by the packing cup construction 17 which surrounds the lower end of the lower section of macaroni tubing 4 and packs outwardly against the sleeve 13.

Mounted within the lower section of macaroni tubing 4 is a check valve 18 which is yieldably held in position by means of a spring 19 to prevent the well liquid from passing into the macaroni tubing 4 when the macaroni tubing is lowered into position within the sleeve 13.

lln order to admit a predetermined slug of liquid or oil tol be raised from the well and to admit a predetermined quantity of gas into the gas chamber 7 to force the'liquid as admitted to the chamber 7 from the well, automatically operating valve means are provided which are preferably of the following construction:

y 'lihe inlet valve 11 is provided with a guide stem 20 which fits within a guide sleeve 21 formed in the housing 14. "Formed through the stem 20 and the valve .head 11 is an equalizing port 22 which lequalizes the pressure in the opposite faces of the valvell so that the Avalve 11 will' actuate by gravity when so permitted. .The liquid inlet valve 3 is also provided with a guide stem 23'whlich ts within a guide 24 formed as an extension of the cage 25 within which the valve head 8 is mounted. The cage 25 is secured at its upper end to a seat block 26 which provides a valve seat 27 forthe valve head 3. 'llhe blo'ck'26 is screw-threaded to the coupling -erably includes a bellows 3() which is mounted concentrically around a stem 31. 'llhe stern 31 is secured to a connecting rod 32 vwhich connects with the valve head 3. 'llhe neat/,oca

37 which exerts pressure downwardly on the stem 31 to force the stem 31 downwardly,

n and hence force the valve head 8 away fromits seat 27 to overcome the pressure created vby the column of fluid desired in the chamber 7 and tubing 3.

rll`he spring 37 engages'at its opposite end a plug 38 which is screw-threaded within the housing 36. 'llhe housing 36 is screw-threaded to the end of the sleeve 5. `rll`he spring 37 is mounted to permit its operating pressure to be varied by screwing in or -out the cap 38 so that the column of liquid which is to be forced from the well as a slug may be varied. rThe setting ofthe spring 3'? determines the height of the column to be forced from the well as a` slug by providing means for equalizing the pressure exerted on the bellows 30 by such a column of fluid. .a

A. perforated plate 39 is secured to the stem 32 by means of a loclr nut 49 and the plate 39 is perforated as illustrated at 41 to permit the well liquid to pass into the chamber 7 and tubing 3. Secured to the plate 39 are guide rods 42 which pass upwardly from the plate 39 `through guide bores 43 formed in the transverse extension of the housing 36 and are connected with a second perforated plate 44. Secured to the upper perforated plate 44 is a plunger 45 which extends upwardly into positionto engage the inlet valve 1,1 to raise the valve 11 from its seat and permit gasto flow downwardly into the gas chamber 7 and tubing 3 to lift the oil or liquid from the well when the lpressure wit-hin the chamber 7 has been built up suiiiciently by the admission of the Well liquid ,into the chamber Z and tubing 3 to cause the bellows 30 to operate to raise the valve head 8 against the seat 27. The housing 36 is filled partially with a liquid and the remainder of the volume of the housing 36 is filled with a'ir so as to partially equalize the pressure on the bellows 30 and to provide a Huid stop to prevent the bellows 30 from collapsing from external pressure created in the barrel 6 when the gas under pressure is admitted to raise the column of liquid as a slug fromthe well, or created by other variable circumstances beyond denite control.

. ln the modiiied form of this invention' illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8, the structure is entirely similar to that illustrated in Figures 1'. 2,3., 4 and 5 so that the same numerals have been used withthe addition of an exponent a tov designate the parts of this modied structure, the essential. difference fbetween the two structures being that in the second form the casing 1a is used to provide the gas conducting pipe, and the tubing 3a is used to conduct the fluid and gas from thewell. 'llhis construction eliminates the use of the macaroni tubing 4 required for the \construction illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive.

ln order to conduct the gas into the lift mechanism when using this type of construction, it is necessary to modify the const-ruction of the gas inlet valve to provide a ported block 50a which is screw-threaded in the sleeve 5a which connects the tubing 3a with the barrel 6% rlhe ported block 50El is provided with transversely extending .ports 51a liquid in the well and hence upon the 'formation of the gas pressure, it is necessaryto provide a packer 54a at the lower end of the lift assembly which packs the extension pf the tubing 3El against the casing '1a.

ln the case of each construction `the gas inlet conduit, whether it be the macaroni tubing 4 or the casing la, is connected with a suitable source of gas under pressure and may be connected with a multiple well operating mechanism such, for example, as illustrated in my co-pending application for gas lift method and means Serial No. 178.962,

filed March 28, 1927. The liuid lifted from the well may be conducted to any suitable source such, for example, as a gas trap in order to separate the gas from the Well liquid.

The operation of the gas lift embodying this invention is that gas under pressure is admittedto the lift chamber under a predetermined height of liquid'irrespective of the degree of submergence of the apparatus in the column of liquid in the Well and is :so

admitted only when the column of liquid has been built up in the delivery pipe to a sufficient head to compress the bellows or 3()al and hence raise the valve head 8 or 8av against its seat and close off,l the column of liquid vfrom the well.

The gas is then admittedto below the col- Vumn of liquid from the well as a slug and when the slug has been lifted .from the lWell, the pressure within the chamber`7 becomes reduced and the spring 37 and bellows 30 are operative to again move the valve 8 away from the seat 27 and hence permit thevalve 11 to seat on its seat 10 and close ofi' the gas from the lift chamber and permit oil to flowv freely from the well into the chamber 7 and tubing 3 to the predetermined height, which is determined by the pressure of the spring 37 or 37a when considered with the pressure created by the compressed air trappedwithin the housing 36. l l

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that ll do not wish to be limited -to the details of construction herein set forth als my invention is vsusceptible to various modifications without. departing from the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

l claim:

1. In an apparatus of the class described. the combination of a closed chamber adapted to be submerged in a column of liquid, means for admitting gas under pressure into the chamber, an out-let pipe extending from the chamber, means foradmitting liquid from the column of liquid into the said chamber, and automatically fluid actuated means interposed between the said gas inlet, and liquid inlet means to actuate the liquid inlet means to a closed position afterl a predetermined quantity of liquid has been admitted into said chamber andopen said gas inlet means.

2'. In a gas lift, the combination of a closed chamber adapted to be submerged in a column of liquid in a well having a gas inlet opening and a liquid inlet opening, valves mounted in said openings, and fluid pressure actuated means interposed between said valves, and operable to act-uate the valve to open the liquidk inlet and admit a predetermined quantity of liquid into said chamber and operable when the said chamber has received said predetermined quantity of liquid to permit the said 'valve to close the liquid inlet opening and actuate the gas inlet valve to open the gas inlet and adm-it gas under pressure into said chamber to lift said liquid from said chamber, and an outlet pipe eX- tending from the chamber.

3. In a gas lift, the combination of a closed chamber adapted to be submerged in a column of liquid in a well having a gas inlet opening, a liquid inlet opening, and a liquid outlet, a gas inlet valve, a liquid inlet valve,

and iiuid pressure actuated means interposed l between said valves and operable to inter- I mittently and alternately actuatel said valves to permit a predetermined quantity of liquid vto enter said chamber and to be lifted from said chamber through the liquid outlet as a v slug.

bei', means for lsuspending the chamber in submerged position in a column of liquid in a weil, the chamber providing a gas inlet opening, a liquid inlet opening and a liquid outlet, a balanced type gas inlet valve, a bal- 4., .In a gas lift, the combination of a chamchamber, means for admitting liquid from the column of liquid into said chamber, automatic fluid pressure actuated means interposed between the said gas inlet means and liquid inlet means and operable to intermittently' and alternately actuate the gas and liquid inlet means to admit a predetermined quantity of liquid from the fluid column into said chamber, close the liquid inlet means and open the gas inlet means to lift the predetermined quantity of liquid from the closed chamber through the outlet pipe as aslug.

6. ln an apparatus of the class described, the combination-of a closed chamber adapted to be submerged in a column of liquid, means for admitting gas under pressure. into the chamber, an outlet pipe extending from the chamber, means for admitting liquid from the column of liquid into said chamber,auto matic fluid pressureactuated means interposed between the means for admitting gas :teaaoee the chamber, means for admitting liquid from the column ont liquid into said chamber, and automatiofluid pressure actuated means interposed between the gas inlet means and the liquid inlet means and adapted to be actuated by the pressure created by a predetermined head of liquid in said chamber to close the liquid inlet means and open the gas inlet means to lift said predetermined quantity of liquid from said chamber as a slug.

9. In an apparatus\of the class described, the combination of a closed chamber adapted to be submerged in a column of liquid, means for admitting gas under pressure into the chamber, an outlet pipe extending from the chamber, means for admitting liquid from the column of liquid into the said chamber, 'and automatic Huid pressure expansible means interposed between the gas inlet and the liquid inlet means to actuate the liquid inlet means to a closed position after a predetermined quantity of/liquid hasv been admitted into said chamber. f

Signed at Los Angeles, Calif., this 11th day of J une, 1928.

MARK P. BURKE.

under pressure into the chamber, and the means for admitting liquid from the column of liquid into said chamber, to alternately actuate the said means to admit a predetermined quantity of liquid from the column oit liquid into said chamber and lift the said liquid from said chamber through said outlet 1pc. p 7. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a closed chamber adapted to be submerged in a column of liquid in a well, concentrically disposed pipes extending from said chamber to the surface of the well, one of said pipes providing-a liquid outlet pipe, the other of said pipes providing a gas inlet pipe, means for controlling the admission of gas intosaid chamber, means for controlling the admission of liquid into said chamber, and automatic fluid pressure actuated means interposed between the 'gas control means and the liquid control means and operable to actuate said control means alternately to admit a predetermined quantity of liquid into said chamber and to lift the said quantity of liquid from the chamber through the liquid outlet pipe as a slug.

8. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a closed chamber adapte to be submerged in the column of liquid,

means for admitting gas under pressure into the chamber, an outlet pipe extending from. 

